Arriving at the BYU Jerusalem Center

We arrived in Israel on 9/1/2010.   We had more bags (9 + 2 mailed boxes) than for any prior trip. But this was an 18-month move!  The 81 BYU students also arrived, on 6 different flights. We accompanied the largest group (20), via Kennedy NYC on Delta.  (They said we brought cool weather. August 2010 was the hottest month on record there -- over 105 degrees in Jerusalem, 120 at the Dead Sea.)  Israel has become a 1st-world country, as shown by its modern airport in Tel Aviv.  Almost everything in the U.S. was also available here, but often at much higher prices. A shekel was then worth U.S. 28 cents.

We were met at Ben Gurion Airport by Dr. Frank Judd, a faculty member who came to the BYU Center in 1992 as a student. He returned with his wife Jill and 5 daughters. Dr. Kerry & Julianne Muhlestein brought 6 children. Jeff Chadwick (wife Kim) & Kent Jackson (Nancy) rounded out our 2010 BYU faculty.

 

At this familiar landmark (called by some "the pencil sharpener"), we turned onto our main front access road.  Soon we had our first glimpse of the Old City.  In one hour, we went from sea level to 2,700 feet elevation. As the scriptures say, all routes go "up to Jerusalem." All bldgs were of yellow Jerusalem limestone quarried nearby -- often giving them a golden glow.

After winter rains, the green belt beneath the JC was truly green. Zurim Valley -- part of the Jerusalem Garden National Park -- was created by Mayor Teddy Kollek, JC's main political supporter. This landscaped open space extended to the Hinnom Valley -- upgrading its prior use as a Roman garbage dump and center for child sacrifices in ancient times. ("Hinnom" was another term for hell or hades.)

At first Mayor Kollek resisted the JC at this site -- planned to be within that green belt. Now the JC has enhanced it. Nothing was ever built on oour site!

Signs pointed the way to our private street and the JC -- at One Hadassah Lampel.

The name of BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies ("JC") was a mouth full.  But we were simply known in all of Jerusalem (including cab and bus drivers) as -- "Mormon University."

Our front entry garden was colorful -- in both the spring and fall.

The JC opened in 1987 and was dedicated in 1989 -- as a university foreign study center in East Jerusalem. We lived there for 18 months -- from 9/1/2010 to 3/1/2012.  The JC was on five acres high atop Mt. Scopus, just before Hebrew University -- on the Mt. of Olives' north end.   Romans & Babylonians had both camped there to "scope out" the best way to attack Jerusalem. 

The principal JC architects were David Reznik & Frank Ferguson (with Bob Fowler in SLC).  The JC's 8 levels were built down the hill, rather than above it.  











In May 1988, after years of ultra-Orthodox intense opposition (fearing the JC would be a Mormon proselyting center), a 49-year ground lease (with a 49-year option) was signed by Jeffrey R. Holland, President of BYU, and the Israeli Lands Authority -- including a non-proselyting guaranty by Elder Howard W. Hunter for the LDS Church.  

On 5/16/89, after all liens were discharged and he had recovered from serious back surgery, Pres. Hunter returned for a quiet dedication of the JC.  He prayed:  "May all who enter here for whatever purpose be blessed of thee and feel thy spirit."  This is fulfilled every day!











The 5-acre site adjoins the Zurim Valley below, Augusta Victoria's grounds above and on one side, the Catholic Apostolic Delegation -- Vatican's HQ in Israel and Palestine. 

 

Pope Benedict XVI stayed next door in March '09 while some of his entourage lodged at our JC.  From our 8th level eastern windows, we saw this caring nun in white often come from the Catholic facility. She brought food scraps to dozens of wild neighborhood cats. We wondered how so many cats stayed alive there!

 We had cats of our own -- some hydrating at the JC fountains.  One cat had her litter in the bushes at our front entry.  JC security guards adopted and cared for them.

We saw far more cats than dogs in the Holy Land.  By tradition, prophet Muhammad approved having cats but not dogs as pets.